Window-cleaner



(No Model.)

J. RUDE.

WINDoW CLEANER.

No. 591,142. Patented oct. 5,1897.`

rn TATES JOHN RUDE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

WIN Dow-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LetterspPatent No. 591,142, dated October 5, 1897. l Application filed April 1, 1896.: erial No. 585,683. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RUDE, a citize of the United States, residing at Chicago, inl the county of Oook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve-` ments in VVindow-Oleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices to be used for cleaning windows, such as are more especially designed to be einployed for cleaning the outer surfaces of windows, thus allowing the operator to remain inside without subjecting himself to exposure and the danger. of falling from the window-sill; and it consistsin certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrange1nent,-- and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed. f

In order to enable others skilled inthe art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to'describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a window-casing, showing lny cleaner in position and ready to be used for washing the outer surface of the glass. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaner detached from the window, showing it provided with a wiping attachment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the cleaner, showing the follower suspended on a pulley. Fig. 4 is a sectinal view taken on line 4: 4 of Fig. l, showing the lower portion of the cleaner; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the operating-drum and the cords for moving the follower which carries the cleaning device wound thereon.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents an upright or standard which may be made of any suitable size and material, but. is preferably rectangular in shape and of wood. This standard is hollow and is provided in its inner side with a' longitudinal slot a, through which a pin or projection b on the follower B extends' and operates, said pin being seated in a rectangular lug b', rigid with the follower, (see Fig. 3,) and which lug travels in the slot a. At one side of this lug the follower is provided with an upright groove Bfor a purpose to appear below. The

standard A is pivotally secured at its lower portion to the horizontal base-piece A', which is likewise hollow and usually rectangular in shape in cross-section. The pivot is formed by laterally-projecting stub-shafts or pins a in opposite sides of the standard, which enter ears A2, rising from the base A at points above the line of the upper face of said base. By this construction is produced a knucklejoint enabling the standard to be folded back fiat upon the base when the device is to be stored away or to be raised to vertical position at right angles with the base when it is to be used, as seen in Fig; l, at which time pressure upon the inner end of the base will obviously bear the upper end of the standard, and hence the cleaning devices,inward toward the window.V

In the upper end of the standard A is located a sheave O, over which passes a cord or belt D, one end of which is secured to the upper part of the follower B, the body thereof passing thence downward through the groove B and the other end being attached to the drum E, which is journaled within the inner end of the base-piece A and is provided with a crank-handle E for turning the same.

In the lower portion o'f the standard A are located two ysheaves c and c', under and with which the cords or belts D and D' pass, as shown in F-igs. l and 4 of the drawings. The cord D is secured at one of its ends to the lower portion of the follower B and at its other end to the drum E, whereon it is wound in such a manner that it will unwind therefrom While the cord D is being wound thereon, or vice versa. The main objection to devices of this character now in use is that where they rest on the window frame or sill they are likely to make dirty or greasy marks, and especially when the device is moved laterally to bring the cleaning portion to another part of the window-pane the support is apt to scratch the paint on the frame or sill, which latter is often of galvanized iron painted to resemble stone. Even a wheeled support would leave its unsightly marks, and a plurality of supports ICO side of the pane. In order to overcome these objections, the lower outerportion of the basepiece A' is provided with two cleats forming a transverse groove g, in which is iitted for lateral movement a brace G, which is used to rest on the outer surface of the window-sill H to aidin holding the base A in a horizontal position. may be secured a socketed piece I, carrying a sponge t', to be used for washing the window-pane, or a similarly-formed piece I', provided with a iiexible piece t" when it is de,

sired to wipe or dry the window-pane- From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be clearly understood that by raising the window-sash H the standard A may be placed in a vertical position on the outside thereof, when the base A will rest on the base of the window-frame and may be held in a horizontal position by means of the brace G, which will rest on the inclined or outer part of the sill, as is clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings, at which time the washing devices will contact with the outer face of the pane. Vhen, however, it is desired to move the machine laterally, the handle 71, is raised slightly, and this movement lifts the base A off of the window-frame entirely and rocks the machine over the brace G as a pivot or fulcrum support. The entire device is then moved laterally to the desired position, the cleats forming the groove g sliding easily along the head of the T-shaped brace G. Thus it will be seen that there is absolutely no frictional movement over the base of the window-frame nor over the sill which would mar either in the least. The only contact of these parts is when the base A rests on the frame and where the long brace G rests upon the sill. Said brace is usually furnished in a strip, which is cut O by the user to the proper length to fit upon the sills of the windows in his building, and

ywhen not in use the brace is removed longitudinally from the groove and stored away with the remainder of the machine. A socketed piece I, carrying a spongelt' or other device saturated with water, may then be placed on the pin b of the follower, whenn by drawing the base-piece inwardly and bearing the same downward by the handle h the sponge t will be caused to forcibly contactwith the outer surface of .the glass and can be raised and loweredthereon by turning the crankhandle E to revolve the drum E in the proper direction, which operation will cause one of the cords or belts I) and D to be wound thereon and the other one unwound therefrom,

On the pin b of the follower ient form.

The tube B guides the central portion of the cord`or belt D and prevents it from interfering with the follower or retarding the vertical movements thereof. The lug Z9', which travels in the slot a, prevents lateral or undesirable movements of the cleansing or wiping devices; but a most important part of my invention is the brace G, which is of substantially T-shaped crosssection,the head of the T sliding loosely between the cleats g and its stein resting iirmly upon the sill Without marring or scratching the latter. When it is desired to bring the cleaning devices to another part of the window, the base-piece A is raised slightly at its inner end, which lifts it oif the base of the window-frame and throws the standard outward, rocking the whole over the brace G as a pivot, and the base A is then moved laterally, as desired, (the cleats g sliding upon the brace G,) after which the parts are returned to their original positions and the operation of cleaning the window is resumed. It will be obvious that for windows with sills of different inclinations braces G of different heights may be employed, so long as their heads iit loosely between the cleats g. Whatever brace is used it is removed by withdrawing it laterally from the cleats when it is desired to fold the machine for storage. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a window-cleaner substantially as described, the combination with a standard, a base-piece, a knucklejoint connecting its outer end to the lower end of the standard, cleaning devices sliding vertically in the latter, a windlass in the base-piece, and connections between the windlass and cleaning devices for causing the vertical reciprocation of the latter; of two cleats secured transversely beneath the outer end of the basepiece, and a brace T-shaped in cross-section whose head is loosely' clamped between the cleats and whose stem rests upon the windowsill, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN RUDE.

Witnesses:

CHAs. C. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN.

IOO 

